1/29/15
By: Rob Moore
CLEVELAND – One of the original liberators of Dachau concentration camp and a member of the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust and White County resident has died.
Brig. Gen. Russel Weiskircher (U.S. Army-Ret.), who was 90, died at his home in Cleveland today following a period of declining health.
Weiskircher enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 17, going from high school to combat infantry duty in Europe during World War II. He fought in Italy, France and Germany.
His role as “second man over the wall” behind Lt. Col. Felix Sparks during the liberation of Dachau was something Weiskircher often described as his most memorable experience.
“Russ”, as his friends called him, talked of himself and Sparks opening the gates of the concentration camp from within.
There members of their battalion discovered the corpse-laden boxcars, the labs, crematory and 30,000 dead and dying prisoners.
Weiskircher said the things he saw changed his life, noting that before that he never realized man could be so cruel to fellowman.
It was that experience he often shared with anyone who would listen, including students in a classroom at Woodville Elementary in Habersham County, Truett-McConnell College students during convocation service and Holocaust events at the Georgia Capitol, to name only a few.
Weiskircher dedicated himself to educate others to learn from the Holocaust and to “stand up, speak up and be somebody – bad things happen when good people don’t get involved.”
His illness took his voice in recent years, but he remained a staunch proponent of speaking out against prejudice.
After the war, he remained in the military for 45 years, retiring from active duty in 1978.
He received numerous decorations, including the Bronze Star, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, three Purple Hearts and numerous campaign ribbons.
Alexander Funeral Home of Cleveland is handling arrangements.
Brig. Gen. Russel Weiskircher (U.S. Army-Ret.), who was 90, died at his home in Cleveland today following a period of declining health.
Weiskircher enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 17, going from high school to combat infantry duty in Europe during World War II. He fought in Italy, France and Germany.
His role as “second man over the wall” behind Lt. Col. Felix Sparks during the liberation of Dachau was something Weiskircher often described as his most memorable experience.
“Russ”, as his friends called him, talked of himself and Sparks opening the gates of the concentration camp from within.
There members of their battalion discovered the corpse-laden boxcars, the labs, crematory and 30,000 dead and dying prisoners.
Weiskircher said the things he saw changed his life, noting that before that he never realized man could be so cruel to fellowman.
It was that experience he often shared with anyone who would listen, including students in a classroom at Woodville Elementary in Habersham County, Truett-McConnell College students during convocation service and Holocaust events at the Georgia Capitol, to name only a few.
Weiskircher dedicated himself to educate others to learn from the Holocaust and to “stand up, speak up and be somebody – bad things happen when good people don’t get involved.”
His illness took his voice in recent years, but he remained a staunch proponent of speaking out against prejudice.
After the war, he remained in the military for 45 years, retiring from active duty in 1978.
He received numerous decorations, including the Bronze Star, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, three Purple Hearts and numerous campaign ribbons.
Alexander Funeral Home of Cleveland is handling arrangements.